Signaling system.



No. 835,441. PATENTED NOV. 6, 1906.

V W. E. LAIRD.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZZ. 1904.

Fig. L

Fig-2- Witnesses- Inventbr: %zz%aw f/ Wesley E. Laird M W byw- UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

WESLEY LAIRD; OF PITTSFIELD. MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNOR TO STANLEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PlTTSFlELDq MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

fatented. Nov. 6, 1906.

Application filed July 22. 1904. flfl' 217,627.

systems; and its object is to provide a system enabling any desired station to be called without calling other stations connected with the same line, which embodies a. number of novel features, and which is simple 'in arrangement and reliable in action;

When usedwith a number ofstations connected by a metallic circuit, my mvention possesses the advantage that it requires no additional wires; but the wires of the metallic circuit may be employed for signaling w thout interfering with any other use of the wlres, such as tele honing, at the same time. On the other han ,where no metallic circuit 18 employed my invention requires only a single Wire for its application.

I Among the many applications of my inventlon I may mention its utility when employed in connection with a plurality of au tomatic indicators of the type described in Patent No. 742,681, issued to me October My present invention renders it possible to put in operation the actuating indicators connected to a single line. -My invention, however, is not limited to this specific application, but may be used in connection' with telephone and telegraph lines for sending and receiving all kinds of electrical signals, for exploding mines, or any service whatever where a single line connects several different stations.

By means of my invention not only may any one of a plurality of stations be called up from a single point, but any station may call up any of the others without operating a signal at any station but the one desired. I

One feature of my invention consists in a step-by-step mechanism and means for setting it from a distance, together with a normally open switch in the circuit of a signal device arranged to be closed by the step-bystep mechanism on one of its positions, a,

My invention relates to selective signaling normally closed switch also in the signal-circult and arranged to be opened while the mechanism s bemg set and means for returnthe step-by-step device'to its first posi-.

tioii after a predetermined time.

Another feature of my invention consists in the combination with a metallic circuit and a station or stations connected thereto of means controllable from a distance for temporarily groiinding one wire of the metallic circuit. through the signal-actuating mechanism at that station, so that the signal mechanism may be operated from one wire and the earth-return, so as not to interfere with any use of the metallic'circuit at the same time, together with retarding means operatively connected to the groundin means to prevent the breaking of the ground connection for a predetermined time.

More specifically considered, my invention comprises an electromagnetically-actuated switch for accomplishing this groundlng, to-

gether with a dash-pot or other retarding means operatively connected to the switc and arranged to preventit from breaking the ground connection for a predetermined time long enough for sending the desired signal.

My invention will best be understood by reference to'the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows diagrammatically anarrangement embodyingmy invention used in connection with the metallic circuit of telephone, telegraph, or similar systems; and

.Fig. 2 shows a modification of the same in which no metallic circuit is employed.

In Fig. 1, a a represent the two wires of a metalliccircuit, such as a telephone or telegraph circuit, or the circuit of the automatic indlcators shown in my patent above referred to. B represents a battery having one terminal connected to the line-wire a and its other terminal arranged to be connected to earth or to line-wire a by the switches s and s, res ectively. The arrangement as de scribe thus far constitutes the apparatus for sending a message. The apparatus at the receiving-station consists of the followmg: 0 represents a'magnet-coil having one terminal connected to the line-wirea and the other terminal con. iected through the bridging member d to the line-wire a The:

' mits tree upward movement of the movable move it against the pressure of spring f 9 into .35

- carries two sets of pins, one set being indimagnet-coil 0 controls an armature c, which when raised closes the circuit of a battery I) through the winding of a magnet-coil D. The core of magnet-coil D carries bridging member (2 and the movable member of a dash-pot D. This dash-pot is provided with a check-valved, which permits free movement of the'movable member in an upward direction and retards its movement in a downward direction; The bridging memberd when in its lowest position, as shown, closes the circuit of magnet-coil C, and when raised to its upper position to engage the upper set of stationary contacts connects line-wire a to one terminal ofmagnetr winding E, the other terminal of which is connected to earth., The core of ma net E engages the long arm of a lever F, w 'ch is pivoted at h, and which en ages, by means of a lost-motion connection, the movable member of a dash-pot E. This dash-pot is also provided with a check-valve e, whichpermember and retards its downward movement. The lost-motion connection between the movable member of the dash- 0t and lever F may consist of two collars e, etween which the end of lever F is allowed a certain amount of play. The lever F carries a pawl and pressed in a clockwise direction by t e springf When lever F is at its lowest position, as shown,-the pawl f is engaged and rotated by the stop f so as to the position shown. When lever F is raised, however, pawl f is pushed by s ring f into engagement with the teeth on t e periphery of the ratchet member H, which is also pivoted at h. g is a second pawl which is also rotated in a clockwise direction by the spring g. When lever 'F is in its-lowest position, it engages the long arm or" pawl g and holds it in the position shown against the tension of spring 9. When lever F is raised; however, pawl g is rotatedby the spring 9 to brin the short arm of the pawl into enga ementwith the teeth of ratchet member Member H, which, as has been said, is ivoted at h, is normally held by gravity or y' a against the stop it. This member cated by the reference characters 1, 2, and 3 and the other set by reference characters 1, 2, and 3. I is a short lever which at the first station is loosely hung on the pin 1 and engaged on one side by the pin 1. i is a pivoted normally open switch member adapted to be engaged by the lever I when member H is moved in a clockwise direction and which is normally held against the stop i by the tension-spring i When engaged by arm I, the member 'i is ressed into engagement with the contact k which thereb closes a circuit from battery 7 throu switch member J and the signaling device ease-4.1

Thus in order to close the circuit of signaling device K it is seen that not only must member i be in engagement with contact K, but switch J must also be in engagement with contact j. Switch member J is normally supported in its closed position by the short arm of lever F.

I The operation is then as follows: When it is desired to send a signal, switch s isfirst depressed, momentarily closing a circuit through the magnet-coil C. Magnet-coil C draws up its armature g, completing a circuit from battery I; through magnet-winding D. .ll iagnetwinding D consequently draws up its core, shifting switch member (E from the lower to the upper contacts. The circuit of coil C is thus broken, and line-wire ais connected to one terminal of coil E. .Thus by the operation as describedthus far one wince of the metallic circuit is grounded at each station through the magnet-coil E at that station. This ground is maintained for a time by the dash-pot D, which while it permits the free upward movement of the core of magnet D retards its downward movement and holds the bridging member 0! in engagement with the upper contacts alter armature c has opened the circuit of coil D for a surl'icient length of time for signaling'as, for instance, thirty or forty seconds. Now while the linewire a is grounded at all the stations through the coils E if the switch s is closed all the coils E will be energized by the battery B. Each coil E will consequently draw 11. i the long arm of lever F, raising the movabe member of dash-pot E and releasing. pawl j" from stop f allowing it to be pressed into engagement with the teeth oi member-H, seas to move member H one tooth. This brings the lever .1 into engagement with the pivoted contact 01, so as to press it against the contact it. The circuit of the si nal device K is not closed, however, since t e raising of the long arm of lever F has lowered the short arm, so as to let switch J fallout of engagement with the contact j. lit will be understood that switch 8 is depressed for onlyan instant, so as to send an impulse over the line a. The coils E are consequently deenergized immediately after they have-raised their cores, and the levers F are permitted to fall back part way to their lowest position. They are prevented from falling back into the position shown in Fig. 1' by the lower collar e, carried by the movable member of the dash-pot E". This dash-pot holds its movable member in raised osition long enough for the signal to be sent.

he distance between the two collars c is enough, however, to let the lever F fall back a suflioient distance to allow the awl to engage another tooth of the mem er so as to rotate it by another step if coil E is again energized. The member H is held in-position during this movement of arm l3 the pawl g, which is. released arm l3 IIO pressed b its spring into engagement with ratchet The mo'vementof lever F from the upper to the lower collar eis not sufficient, however, to restore'the' switch J into tion. p ented His-.- 1, o y g pulse is sent by the switch 8. Consequently the member H is rotated only one tooth, so as to bring member I directlyover the contact t'. Then as the movable member of the dash-pot E returns slowly to its lowest posit-ion the long arm of lever F slowly falls until switch J is closed by the short arm of the 'lever. The circuit of thesignali device K is then closed, and the signal is t on given, As the long arm of lever F continues to fall it engages the pawl g, rotating itfoutof engagement with the member H and allowing the member H to return to the stop It,

The a paratus at the other stations is identical wit that shown in the drawings except at the member i s placed onanother pin,- such as 2 or 3. Consq impulse i ent by switch 8 all the members H a e m da single tooth, and the other It; e I e not moved far enough to close the cuit of their signaling devices. On. the other hand, if it is desired to call station 3 three unpulses would be sent over line-wire a,

which Wbuld bringthe lover I at station '3 into-engagement with its riveted contact i, but woul carry the levers at stations 1 and 2 ast their ivoted contact i. Station 3 wi I be the 011i one to be called in this case, since the pivoted levers I are free to move, so as to sli over the ends of the pivoted contact '1', wen the members H return to their startin positions. I

It wi 1 be seen that the arrangement as outlined above does not interfere in any way with the use of the metallic circuit for any purposes, such as .telephoning, at the same time that. signals are being sent. ing system acts merely to ground tem orarily one line of the magnetic circuit, an this line andthe earth-return are employed for sending the signals."

In F1 2 I have shown a simplified arran ement wIiichi's applicable where-no meta lie circuit exists, but where a number of devicessuch, for instance, as minesare to be selectively operated by a single wire. Inthis arran ement only a single wire a is em ployed, w ich is permanently grounded at the several stations throu h the magnetwinding E. The coils C and D of Fi 1, together with the devices controlled t ereby,

are omitted; but otherwise the apparatus is the same as in Fig. 1, and the operation is identical with that already described,'ex cept that it is 'ulmecessary'to send any preliminary im uise to ound the lineswirer do not esire to imit myself to 'the'par-l ticular construction and arrangement of uently when a single The signal-.

set, and means for Vice 'ada parts shown, since many modifications may e made therein without departing from my ntion, and I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications. engagement with its contact-j. If it s de- 1 .sired to call station No. 1, which is the sta-' What I claim as new, and'desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

'1. In a signaling system, an electromagnet, a reciprocating member actuated thereby, means for retarding the movement of said'member when said .magnet is denen,

gized, a lost-motion connection between said member and said retarding means, a ratchet adapted to be moved step by step by the movement of said member permitted by said lost-mo'tiom connection, a signal device adapted to be actuated by said ratchet in one position only of said ratchet, and means operatively connected to said retarding means for rendering said 'device inoperative.

2. In a signaling system, an electromagnet, -a reciprocating member actuated there-' by, means for retarding the movement of said member when said magnet is deener ized, a

lost-motion connection between sai memher and said retarding means, 'a step-by-step device adapted to be moved by the movement of saidmember permitted by said lost- -motion connection, a normally open switch arranged to be closed by said step-by-step device in 'one position thereof, an electroresponsive signal device controlled by. said switch, a normally closed switch in circuit with said si nal device, and means for main taining sai normally closed switch open while said step-by-step device is bein set.

, 3. In a signaling system, a stepy-step device, means'controllable from" a distance for setting said device, a normally open switch adapted and arranged to be closed by said device in one position thereof, an electroresponsive signal device controlled by said switch, a normally closed switch in circuit with said signal device, means for maintaining said normally closed switch open while Said device is being setand 'me'ansfor returning said step-by-step' device to its first position after a predetermined time.

4. Ina signaling system, a step-by-step device, means controllable from a distance for setting said device, an electroresponsive signal device, a switch in circuit with saidde- 5; In asignaling system, a step-by-step I device, means controllable from a distance for. setting said device, an electroresponsive signal device, a switch in circuit with said depted to be operated by said step-bystep device in one position thereof, a switch arranged to open-the circuit of said signal device while said step-by-step device is being set, and a dash-pot operatively connectedto said step-bystepdevic'e whereby said device is returned to its firstposition only after a predetermined time.

6. In combination, a metallic circuit, a signal-station connected thereto, a signalactuating Winding at said station having one terminal grounded, a switch adapted to con-v nect the other-terminal to one wire of said metallic circuit, means controllable from a distance for moving said switch to establish said connection, and retarding means'operatively connected to said switch adapted to prevent the breaking of said connection for a predetermined time.

7. In combination, a metallic circuit, a signal-station connected vthereto, a signalactuating winding at said station-having one terminal grounded, a switch adapted to connect the other terminal to one wire of said metallic circuit, a second magnet-winding connected-to said circuit and adapted when energized to move said switch to establish said connection, means at a distance for supplying current to sald circuit to energize said Winding, and retardin means operatively connected to said sWitc adapted to prevent the breaking of said connection for a:predetermined time after said winding is deener gized.

8. In combination, a metallic circuit, a

signal-station connected thereto, means controllable from a distance for grounding one wire of said circuit at said station, retarding means operatively'conneoted to said grounds ing means to prevent the breaking of the ground connection for a predetermined time, and a signal-operating device included in said groundcircuit,

9. In combination, a metallic circuit, a signal-station connected thereto, means controllable'from a distant point for temporarily grounding one wire of said circuit atsaid station, a signal-operating device included in said ground-circuit, retarding means operatively connected to said grounding means to prevent the breaking of the ground connection for a predetermined time, and a second connection from said Wire to ground at said distant point including a source of current and controlling means therefor.

In Witness whereof'I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of July, 1904.

WESLEY LAIRD.

Witnesses:

' S. E. WIDDIFrELD,

H. G. STAPLETON. 

